Doll

ABSTRACT

The present invention is generally related to dolls, and in particular, a doll having a costume element such that the doll can change into different characters using the costume element. The doll may have body with a torso and at least one appendage. The doll also may have at least one from the group consisting of the torso and the at least one appendage that defines a cavity and a costume element that is storable within the cavity. At least a portion of the costume element is configured to engage at least a portion of the body of the doll. The costume element may be any design including a tail, wings, an outfit, pants, a shirt, a head piece, a swimsuit, a jacket, or any other type of costume.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

n/a

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

n/a

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to dolls, and in particular,a doll having a costume element such that the doll can change intodifferent characters using the costume element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dolls have long been a part of children's toys and have been around forcenturies. Dolls offer many opportunities to develop cognitive, finemotor, self-help skills, as well as the imagination. Children can usedolls to apply skills to the doll before they can apply the skillset tothemselves.

Playing with dolls is important in developing social skills. Forexample, when playing house with a doll, the child learns to communicatewith one another kindly and cooperatively while also learning how tocare for one another. When a child uses dolls to mimic real lifesituations, it helps in learning how to deal with and manage a varietyof different issues.

Responsibility is also developed through dolls. Children can learn howto take care of a doll by playing with it which can translate intoday-to-day responsibilities. This type of play can help the child learnto care for their pets and also more readily understand how to care andhelp siblings, friends, and relatives.

Processing and understanding of emotions also occurs when playing withdolls. Entering a world of make believe with a doll can help a childunderstand what is going on in the world around them and help with thedevelopment of empathy and compassion for others. This type of dramaticplay also helps develop the imagination with creative and imaginedscenarios.

Doll playing with others creates unique situations where childrencommunicate with one another and strengthen their vocabulary. This typeof communication allows a child to gain insight into routines and is away for the child to discover the world around them.

Dolls also help with the development of gross and fine motor skills aschildren use their muscles in new and different ways. For example, grossmotor skills develop when lifting the doll, walking with the doll, andpushing the doll in a stroller as these movements involve large musclesof the arms, legs, and torso. Additionally, fine motor skills aredeveloped when changing the doll, putting costumes and other decorativepieces on the doll, feeding the doll, as well as doing other self-careskills like grooming.

However, there is no easy way to transition a doll into differentcostume elements. For example, an individual using a doll would have topurchase numerous dolls and/or separate pieces for the doll if theywanted, a “human doll,” a “mermaid doll,” a “fairy doll,” a “mousedoll,” a “superhero doll,” a “cat doll”, a “unicorn doll”, an “angeldoll” and “princess/queen doll,” and there is no easy way to transform adoll using different costume elements that are removable into differentcharacters.

SUMMARY

The present invention advantageously provides a doll. The doll includesa costume element such that the doll can change using at least onecostume element. The doll may comprise a body having a torso and atleast one appendage. At least one from the group consisting of the torsoand the at least one appendage may define a cavity. A costume elementmay be storable within the cavity and at least a portion of the costumeelement may be configured to engage at least a portion of the body.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the cavity may be translucent.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the doll may further comprise adeployment mechanism disposed within the cavity. The costume element maybe retained by the deployment mechanism.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the cavity may include a door enclosingthe cavity.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the door may be releasably affixed tothe cavity.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the body may define a cavity and thecostume element may be wrapped around a spring loaded roller within thebody. The costume element may be configured to wrap around at least aportion of the body.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the exterior surface of the body may beconfigured to releasably affix to the costume element with a retainingmechanism.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the costume element may include a tailand a fluke.

In one aspect of the embodiment, at least a portion of the fluke may berigid.

In another embodiment, the doll may comprise a torso, at least oneappendage connected to the torso, and a rod. The rod may be disposedwithin the torso and may be connecting the at least one appendage to thetorso. The rod may be moveable between at least a first position wherethe torso and the appendage are proximate to each other and a secondposition where the torso and the appendage are a spaced distance awayfrom each other. The torso may define at least one cavity and the cavitymay be sized to receive a costume element. The costume element may bedeployable when the rod is moved from the first position to the secondposition.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the costume element may be concealed inthe first position.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the costume element is deployable inthe second position.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the costume element may have a tail anda fluke.

In one aspect of the embodiment, at least a portion of the fluke may besecured to at least one appendage.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the fluke may be disposed in the firstposition where the fluke is disengaged from the at least one appendageand the second position where the fluke is secured to the at least oneappendage.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the fluke and the tail are disposedwithin the cavity in the torso.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the fluke is releasably secured to therod.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the fluke is releasably securable tothe at least one appendage and the fluke is movable from the rod to theat least one appendage.

In one aspect of the embodiment, the rod may have a proximal end and adistal end. The distal end of the rod may have a nub which is releasablysecurable within a cavity within the first position and the secondposition.

In another embodiment, the transformable doll may comprise a head, acostume element having a tail and a fluke and a body portion. The bodyportion may have a torso and at least one appendage, the appendage mayhave at least one retaining mechanism and at least one from the groupconsisting of the torso and the at least one appendage defining a cavitytherein configured to retain a costume element. The costume element maybe configured to engage with the torso and the at least one appendageand the costume element being releasably securable to the at least oneappendage.

The details of one or more aspects of the disclosure are set forth inthe accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features,objects, and advantages of the techniques described in this disclosurewill be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overhead view of an exemplary embodiment of a dollconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the doll of FIG. 1 with the costume element beingdeployed from the cavity;

FIG. 3 is a view of the doll of FIG. 1 with the costume element beingsecured to a portion of the body of the doll;

FIG. 4 is an overhead view of an exemplary embodiment of the doll withthe costume element secured to the legs of the doll;

FIG. 5 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 4 with the costumeelement secured to the legs and the torso of the doll;

FIG. 6 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 4 with the costumeelement secured to the legs and the torso of the doll;

FIG. 7 is an overhead view of an exemplary embodiment of the doll with acavity on both legs of the doll;

FIG. 8 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 7 deploying the costumeelement;

FIG. 9 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 7 with the costumeelement secured to the legs and the torso of the doll;

FIG. 10 is an overhead view of an exemplary embodiment of the doll withthe fluke disposed within the legs;

FIG. 11 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 10 with the costumeelement on the legs and feet of the doll;

FIG. 12 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 10 with the costumeelement on the legs and feet of the doll;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary embodiment of the doll with a cavity having adoor in the torso of the doll;

FIG. 14 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 13 with the costumeelement being deployed from the cavity in the torso of the doll;

FIG. 15 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 13 with the costumeelement secured on the legs and torso of the doll;

FIG. 16 is an exemplary embodiment of the doll with a cavity having adoor in the torso of the doll;

FIG. 17 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 16 with the costumeelement being deployed from the cavity in the torso of the doll;

FIG. 18 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 16 with the costumeelement secured on the legs and torso of the doll;

FIG. 19 is another exemplary embodiment of a cross-sectional view of thedoll in a first position with the costume element disposed within thecavity;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the doll of FIG. 19 in a secondposition with the costume element being deployable from the cavity;

FIG. 21 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 19 with the costumeelement secured to the legs and torso of the doll;

FIG. 22 is an exemplary embodiment of a cross-sectional view of the dollin the first position with the costume element disposed within thecavity;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the doll of FIG. 22 in the secondposition with the costume element being deployable from the cavity;

FIG. 24 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 22 with the costumeelement secured to the legs and torso of the doll;

FIG. 25 is an exemplary embodiment of a cross-sectional view of the dollin the first position with the costume element disposed within thecavity;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the doll of FIG. 25 in the secondposition with the costume element being deployable from the cavity;

FIG. 27 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 25 with the costumeelement secured to the legs and torso of the doll;

FIG. 28 is an exemplary embodiment of a cross-sectional view of the dollin a first position with the costume element disposed within the cavity;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the doll of FIG. 27 in the secondposition with the costume element being deployable from the cavity; and

FIG. 30 is an overhead view of the doll of FIG. 27 with the costumeelement secured to the legs and torso of the doll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system and methods disclosed herein are for a doll that maytransform from one character into another character. Specifically,described herein are dolls that have a costume element to transform thedoll from one character to another character. While the figures show thedoll transforming from a human to a mermaid, this is a non-limitingexample as the costume element can be used to transform the doll intodifferent characters using different costume elements.

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordancewith the disclosure, it is noted that components have been represented,where appropriate, by conventional symbols in drawings, showing onlythose specific details that are pertinent to understanding theembodiments of the disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure withdetails that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart having the benefit of the description herein.

As used herein, relational terms, such as “first,” “second,” “top” and“bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity orelement from another entity or element without necessarily requiring orimplying any physical or logical relationship or order between suchentities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singularforms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms aswell, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or“including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical) used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understoodthat terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of this specification andthe relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

It should be understood that various aspects disclosed herein may becombined in different combinations than the combinations specificallypresented in the description and accompanying drawings. It should alsobe understood that, depending on the example, certain processes ormethods described herein may be performed in a different sequence, maybe added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., all described acts orevents may not be necessary to transform the doll).

Now referring to the drawings in which like reference designators referto like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a doll constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention and designatedgenerally as “10.” In one configuration, the doll 10 includes a body 11,which may include a head 12, a torso 14, and at least one appendage,which may include, for example, at least one arm 16 and at least one leg18, and in one configuration, includes two arms 16 and two legs 18. Asused herein, the term “appendage” refers to anything which projectsand/or extends from the body 11. At least a portion of the body 11 maydefine a cavity 20 therein configured to retain a costume element 22. Inone configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, the torso 14 defines the cavity20. In other configurations, the head 12 or at least one appendage maydefine one or more cavities 20. As a non-limiting example, the head 12may define a cavity 20 configured to retain a costume element 22 and/orat least one leg 18 may define a cavity 20 configured to retain acostume element 22. The costume element 22 may be entirely concealedwithin the cavity 20 or it may be at least partially concealed withinthe cavity 20. The cavity 20 may be disposed anywhere within anyappendage. In one embodiment, the costume element 22 includes a mermaidtail 24 and a mermaid fluke 26, or alternatively, the costume element 22may be a tail, wings, an outfit, pants, a shirt, a head piece, aswimsuit, a jacket, a backpack, a hat, a cap, a halo, a tiara, ears, amask, or any other type of costume. In one configuration, the cavity 20is exposed such that it is directly accessible from an exterior. Inanother configuration, the cavity 20 may be enclosed or covered with astructure such as a door 28, which may be permanently or releasablyaffixed to the portion of the body 11 defining the cavity 20.Alternatively, the cavity 20 may be enclosed with a zipper and thezipper may be used to open and close the cavity 20.

The costume element 22 may be retained within the cavity 20 with aretaining and/or deployment mechanism 30. When the costume element 22 iswithin the cavity 20, a portion of the costume element 22 may be visibleoutside of the cavity 20. For example, if the costume element 22 iscomposed of a tail 24 and a fluke 26, the tail 24 may be concealedwithin the cavity 20 and at least a portion of the fluke 26 may bevisible to create wings or another structure. The retaining and/ordeployment mechanism 30 may be a spool 32, which is sized and configuredto be disposed within the cavity 20. For example, the costume element 22may be secured to the spool 32 by wrapping the costume element 22 aroundthe spool 32 as shown in FIG. 1. The spool 32 may be a spring loadedspool or another type of retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 usedto wind and unwind the costume element 22. Alternatively, any other typeof retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 for the costume element 22may be used to releasably secure the costume element 22 within thecavity 20 such as a hook, a clip, or an adhesive. The doll 10 mayfurther include additional retaining and/or deployment mechanisms 30which may be disposed on any portion of the doll 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the costume element 22 may be deployed from thecavity 20 and configured to engage with at least a portion of the body11. In an exemplary embodiment, the costume element 22 may be deployedwhen a pulling force is applied to the costume element 22 and thecostume element 22 unwinds from the spool 32. When the costume element22 is unwound from the spool 32, at least a portion of the costumeelement 22 may be secured to the spool 32 or it may be completelyseparable from the spool 32. As shown in FIG. 2, when the costumeelement 22 is unwound, a portion of the costume element 22 may remainsecured to the spool 32.

Once the costume element 22 is deployed, it may be secured to at least aportion of the body 11 of the doll 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the costumeelement 22 may have the tail 24 with a flap 34 secured to a portion ofthe tail 24 and, in one example, the retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30 may include a fastener 36 secured to the flap 34. As anexample, to secure the costume element 22 to the appendage on the doll10, the flap 34 may be secured around at least a portion of theappendage. More specifically, the flap 34 may be secured around at leastone leg 18 and then the fastener 36 may be further secured around theappendage of the doll 10. In one embodiment, the fastener 36 may be ahook and loop fastener and the flap 34 may be secured in place with thehook and loop fastener. For example, the flap 34 may be wrapped aroundthe legs 18 of the doll 10 and the fastener 36 may be further wrappedaround the legs and secured in place. Also, the fastener 36 may be azipper, buttons, and/or snap fasters.

The fluke 26 may have a spine 38 which may be rigid, semi-rigid, orflexible and this may allow for more realistic movement of the fluke 26when it is secured to the doll 10. The fluke 26 may also have at leastone pin 40 sized to be received within the retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30. As shown in FIG. 3, a portion of the fluke 26 may besecured to at least one appendage with the pin 40 being placed withinthe retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30. In one configuration, theretaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 may include an aperture sizedto releasably receive the pin 40, a magnet, a hook and loop fastener, oran adhesive. The fluke 26 may also have a hinge 42 to allow for foldingof the fluke 26 and which enables the fluke 26 to move once it issecured to a portion of the doll 10. Once the fluke 26 is secured to aportion of the doll 10, the spine 38 and the hinge 42 may make movementof the fluke 26 more realistic while also providing tension to hold thecostume element 22 in place on the doll 10. As an example, the fluke 26may have more than one pin 40 which are sized to be received with theretaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 that is anywhere on the doll 10and the placement of the pin 40 and the at least one retaining and/ordeployment mechanism 30 can determine the movement and flow of thecostume element 22 once it is secured to the body 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, in this embodiment, at least one appendagemay define a cavity 20. This cavity 20 may be disposed on one, two,three, four, or more appendages. The costume element 22 may bereleasably securable within the cavity 20. On at least a portion of thecavity 20, there may be a seam 44 which is accessible and allows thecostume element 22 to be deployed from the cavity 20. For example, thedoll 10 may have a retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 such as alever or button to deploy the costume element 22 from inside the cavity20 to the exterior of the doll 10. The exterior of the doll 10 includesany portion of the doll 10 which is not inside the cavity 20.Alternatively, the seam 44 may be removed from the cavity 20 whichallows for the costume element 22 to be deployed from inside the cavity20. In an alternative embodiment, the legs 18 may be composed from amaterial that is formable into at least one position. For example, aportion of the appendage may be moved from a first position which is inthe shape of a leg 18 to a second position which transforms the shape ofthe leg 18 into a tail 24. The material may be secured in place usingsome type of securing mechanism or fastener or the material may remainin place without a fastener or a securing mechanism depending upon therigidity of the material when it is in at least one position. Forexample, a portion of the material may have a hook and loop fastener tosecure the material into at least one position or the material may bemovable from one position to a second position and remain in eachposition. The appendage may also be movable into a variety of differentshapes and positions depending upon what is being formed with themovement into the different positions.

The costume element 22 may be deployed from the cavity 20 within theappendage and secured to the appendage using a retaining and/ordeployment mechanism 30. For example, when the costume element 22 isdeployed, the retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30, such as a riband socket mechanism, may be used to retain at least a portion of thecostume element 22 to the body 11 of the doll 10. The costume element 22may be secured to at least one appendage and/or may be disposed aroundeach appendage by wrapping the costume element 22 around the appendageand then securing it using the retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30.For example, the costume element 22 may be configured to wrap around atleast a portion of the body 11 or it may be configured to wrap aroundthe entire body 11.

The costume element 22 may also be deployable from more than one portionof the appendage. As shown in FIGS. 4-5, at least a portion of thecostume element 22 may be deployed from at least one foot 48, forexample two feet 48, and at least a portion of the costume element 22may be deployed from another portion of the leg 18. The at least onefoot 48 may also be moved downward to form the fluke 26. As anon-limiting example, the at least one foot 48 may be made out ofmaterial that forms the shape of the at least one foot 48 in the firstposition and may be movable to a second position to create the fluke 26.The retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 may be disposed within thecavity 20 or outside the cavity 20 and then deployed automatically or byhand.

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the doll 10 may also have a roller 50, forexample a spring loaded roller, in the at least one appendage. Theroller 50 may be disposed and concealed within the cavity 20 in at leastone appendage. The door 28 or another cover may conceal the costumeelement 22 and releasably secure the costume element 22 inside thecavity 20. The costume element 22 may be secured, releasably secured, orentirely separable for the roller 50. In one example, the roller 50 maybe disposed within the cavity 20 of each leg 18 of the doll 10. Thecostume element 22 may be deployed from each roller 50 by unwinding thecostume element 22 and then wrapping the costume element 22 around thelegs 18 of the doll 10. In one embodiment, the costume element 22 thatis deployed from one leg 18 of the doll 10 may be secured around a firstportion of the doll 10 and the costume element 22 that is deployed fromthe other leg 18 of the doll 10 may be secured around a second portionof the doll 10 using a retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 such asa hook and loop fastener, a tab, or other retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30.

Now referring to FIGS. 8-9, the costume element 22, which includes thetail 24 and the fluke 26, may be disposed in at least one cavity 20 inthe appendage. A lever, button, or other retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30 may be used to deploy both the tail 24 and/or the fluke 26either separately or together from the cavity 20 or it may be removedmanually. Alternatively, the at least one cavity 20 in the appendage mayretain the tail 24 and the appendage may have an aperture 52 disposed onat least a portion of the appendage where the fluke 26 may be deployedfrom. Once the fluke 26 is deployed, it may fold down and cover the foot48 to create a mermaid tail. At least a portion of the doll 10 maychange color when exposed to water and/or temperature changes. Forexample, the legs 18 may be flesh colored and when they are exposed towater they may turn into one color or more than one color.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-12, the legs 18 may be permanently coupled,separable from each other, and/or one leg 18 may be movable with respectto the other leg 18. The legs 18 may have a portion of the costumeelement 22 in the cavity 20. In one configuration, when the costumeelement 22 is inside the cavity 20 the feet 48 of the doll 10 may haveshoes or another covering. The fluke 26 may be releasably disposedwithin the cavity 20, and there may be a retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30, such as a knob, lever, button or other mechanism to deploythe fluke 26 from inside the cavity 20. The feet 48 may have an aperture52 or a door 28 to allow the fluke 26 to be deployed from the cavity 20to the base of the foot 48. The fluke 26 may retained to a portion of anappendage using a screw of other retaining and/or deployment mechanism30 such that the fluke 26 may be movable in all directions to createrealistic and lifelike movement. Alternatively, the fluke 26 may bedisposed on one side of the legs 18 may be movable into differentpositions. Any portion of the doll 10 may be treated with a paint orfinish where the color may change when exposed, for example, to water orto a change in temperature.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-15, the costume element 22 may be sized to fitwithin the cavity 20 and the cavity 20 may be open and visible or it mayhave a door 28 sized to cover the cavity 20 and conceal the costumeelement 22. The door 28 may be opaque and/or translucent. As seen inFIGS. 13-15, the costume element 22 may be secured within the cavity 20on a spool 32 or it may be simply folded or rolled-up within the cavity20 so that it is sized to be releasably secured within the cavity 20.

As shown in FIG. 14, the costume element 22 may be deployed from withinthe cavity 20 and may be securable to any portion of the body 11. Forexample, the costume element 22 may be unwound from the spool 32 andonce the costume element 22 is deployed, there may be a portion which isat least partially separable 54 using a slit, a seam, or other separableelement. The portion of the costume element 22 that is at leastpartially separable 54 may be separated so that the costume element 22can be secured to at least a portion of the body 11 or alternatively atleast a portion of the costume element 22 may remain within the cavity20. For example, the mermaid tail may at least be partially separablesuch that a portion of the tail 24 may be separated and then placedaround at least a portion of the legs 18 of the doll 10. At least aportion of the costume element 22 may have a retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30, such as a hook loop fastener, so that once the costumeelement 22 placed on a portion of the body 11 it may be secured inplace. Additionally, all or a portion of the costume element 22 may berigid, flexible, or semi-rigid to help it stay in place.

Referring now to FIG. 15, the costume element 22 may have the retainingand/or deployment mechanism 30, such as a strip 56, to secure thecostume element 22 in place. The strip 56 may include, but not belimited to, a metal strip or other type of rigid and/or semi-rigid strip56 or structure. The strip 56 may be bendable so that it can be retainedwithin the costume element 22 when it is stored within the cavity 20 andwhen the costume element 22 is secured around at least a portion of thebody 11 or the head 12 the strip 56 may be rigid to help the costumeelement 22 stay in place. Alternatively, after the costume element 22 issecured to a portion of the body 11, the retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30, such as the strip 56, may be secured to the costumeelement 22. The costume element 22 may have one strip 56 or more thanone strip 56 to secure the costume element 22 in place. As shown in FIG.15, one strip 56 may be disposed on the tail 24 and a second strip 56may be disposed on the fluke 26 of the mermaid tail to hold the costumeelement 22 in place when the costume element 22 is disposed around thelegs 18. However, the strip 56 may be placed in any location on thecostume element 22. If at least one strip 56 is used, the at least onestrip 56 may be inside the costume element 22 such that it is notvisible or it may be on an exterior of the costume element 22 that isvisible when the costume element 22 is secured to at least a portion ofthe body 11 of the doll 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 16-18, the costume element 22 may be releasablysecured to a spool 32 inside the cavity 20. Alternatively, the costumeelement 22 may be folded up within the cavity 20 or secured within thecavity 20 by another retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30. Thecostume element 22 may be made from a molded plastic or rubber so thatit will stay in place once it is placed on an area of the body 11without additional retaining and/or deployment mechanisms 30. Inside thecavity 20, the costume element 22 may be compressed, folded, or rolled.If the costume element 22 is secured to a spool 32, the spool 32 mayhave a retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 so that the costumeelement 22 may be automatically rolled around the spool 32.

Referring to FIGS. 19-21, the doll 10 may have a torso 14, at least oneappendage connected to the torso 14, and a rod 58 disposed within thetorso 14. The rod 58 may connect the at least one appendage to the torso14. The rod 58 may be movable between at least two positions. As shownin FIG. 19, the rod 58 may be movable from a first position A where thetorso 14 and the appendage are proximate to each other to a secondposition B where the torso 14 and appendage are spaced a distance awayfrom each other as shown in FIG. 20. The rod 58 may have a distal end58A and a proximal end 58B opposite the distal end 58A. The rod 58 maybe within the cavity 20 in the torso 14 and may have at least one nub60. The nub 60 may be part of the rod 58 and/or securable to the rod 58and in a shape that is different from the shape of the rod 58. Forexample, the nub 60 may be shaped as a square, a circle, an oval or anyother shape and the rod 58 may be shaped as an elongate element suchthat the nub 60 protrudes from the elongate element shape of the rod 58.The distal end 58B of the rod 58 may have at least one nub 60 and thenub 60 may be sized to fit within a channel 62 disposed within thecavity 20. The channel 62 may have at least one detent 64 sized toreceive and retain the at least one nub 60. The nub 60 may be releasablysecured within the detent 64 such that the nub 60 may be made out of amaterial that is compressible.

For example, the doll 10 may be moved from the first position A wherethe nub 60 is releasably secured within the detent 64 in the channel tothe second position B. In the first position A, the nub 60 may becompressed within a first detent 64 and then when the nub 60 is moved toa second detent 64 the doll 10 may be in the second position B. Ineither the first position A and/or the second position B, the nub 60 maybe releasably secured within the detent 64. To create this movementbetween different positions, the head 12 may be moved in one directionand the legs 18 moved in an opposite direction such that the rod 58within the channel 62 is moved from one detent 64 within the channel 62to a second detent 64 in the channel 62. The channel 62 may havemultiple detents 64 which may allow the doll 10 to move in manydifferent positions. Alternatively, instead of only moving the head 12and the legs 18 of the doll 10, any other portion of the body 11 may bemoved between a variety of different positions where one appendage ismoved in one direction and another appendage is moved in an oppositedirection which allows for movement of the nub 60 between differentdetents 64. This movement may take place manually or automatically atthe press of a button or using another retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30 to move doll 10 into different positions.

As shown in FIG. 19, the costume element 22 may be disposed proximatethe rod 58. A portion of the costume element 22 may also be disposedoutside of the cavity 20 to make it easier to remove the costume element22 that is disposed inside the cavity 20. Additionally, at least aportion of the costume element 22 may be disposed outside of the cavity20 to create for example a bikini bottom that may securable orcompletely separable from the remainder of the costume element 22. Inthe first position A, the costume element 22 may be completely or atleast partially concealed while in the cavity 20. When the doll 10 is inthe second position B so that the torso 14 and appendage are spaced adistance away from each other, the costume element 22 may be deployablesuch that it may be removed from the cavity 20 and placed on the body 11of the doll 10.

The costume element 22 may be a mermaid tail and the tail 24 may bedisposed within the cavity 20 and the fluke 26 may be disposed on atleast a portion of an appendage such as the legs 18. The legs 18 mayhave a separate cavity 20 where the fluke 26 may be disposed and aretaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 may be used to deploy the fluke26 from the cavity 20 so that it can be secured to a portion of the doll10. When the fluke 26 is retained within the cavity 20, the retainingand/or deployment mechanism 30 may be disposed in one position and whenthe retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 is activated it may bemoved to a second position. For example, the retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30 may be a push button that moves from being extended tobeing depressed when it is pushed. As shown in FIG. 19, the feet 48 mayhave at least one aperture 52 and when the retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30 is activated, the fluke 26 may move from the cavity 20where it is not visible to the outside of the appendage to form a partof the mermaid tail. Alternatively, the fluke 26 may be securedelsewhere on the doll 10 and once the tail 24 portion of the costumeelement 22 is removed from the cavity, the fluke 26 may be placed on anyportion of the doll 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 22-24, the costume element 22 may be disposedwithin the cavity 20 and completely concealed. For example, the tail 24and the fluke 26 may be disposed within the cavity 20 in the torso 14.Alternatively, the cavity 20 may be translucent to show what is insidethe cavity 20. The cavity 20 may also have a rod 58 disposed thereinwhich is engaged with at least a portion of the torso 14. The rod 58 maybe disposable at least between the first position A and the secondposition B when the nub 60 on the rod 58 is moved within the channel 62from a first detent 64 to a second detent 64. In the first position A,the costume element 22 may be completely or partially concealed withinthe cavity 20.

When the doll 10 is moved from the first position A to the secondposition B, at least a portion of the costume element 22 may be exposed.In an exemplary embodiment, when the doll 10 is in the second positionB, at least a portion of the fluke 26 may be deployed and movable frominside the cavity 20 to an appendage. The fluke 26 may have the aperture52 sized to be retained by at least one foot 48 of the doll 10. Thefluke 26 may also have a spine 38 which is rigid and/or semi-rigid andthe pin 40 may make the movement of the fluke 26 more realistic. The pin40 may also be secured within the retaining and/or deployment mechanism30. At least one pin 40 may be disposed between the two fins of thefluke 26 to make the fluke 26 movable and another pin 40 may be disposedon a different portion of the fluke 26 and may be securable to theretaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 on the foot 48 of the doll 10.Once the costume element 22 is deployed from the cavity 20, the rod 58may be disposed in the first position A.

Referring now to FIGS. 25-27, in another configuration, in the firstposition A, the costume element 22 may be concealed and within a cavity20 which may be disposed in the body 11 of the doll 10. When the doll 10is moved from the first position A to the second position B, the costumeelement 22 may become exposed to allow it to be placed anywhere on thedoll 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the costume element 22 may be thetail 24 and the fluke 26. When the doll 10 is in the second position B,the tail 24 may be deployed from the cavity 20 in the torso 14 to coverthe legs 18 of the doll. Additionally, the fluke 26 may be deployed andbe releasably secured to at least one appendage. For example, the fluke26 may be deployed from the cavity 20 and moved toward the feet 48 ofthe doll 10. The doll 10 may have at least one movable arm 72 sized tosecure at least a portion of the costume element 22 to the doll 10. Themovable arm 72 may be various sizes and shapes depending upon the sizeand shape of the costume element 22 to be secured by the movable arm 72.The doll 10 may also have a retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30,which may secure the movable arm 72 in place and also deploy the movablearm 72 so that it may move into various positions. For example, afterthe costume element 22 is removed from the cavity 20 and the fluke 26 ismoved toward the feet 48 of the doll 10, the movable arm 72 may bedeployed into a desired position and the retaining and/or deploymentmechanism 30 may be activated to retain the movable arm 72 in position.In this example, the retaining and/or deployment mechanism 30 may be abutton or lever to control the movement of the movable arm 72. A portionof the costume element 22 or the entire costume element 22 may besecured in place on the doll 10 using a movable arm 72.

Now referring to FIGS. 28-30, in this embodiment, when the doll 10 is inthe first position A, the costume element 22 may be concealed within thecavity 20. When the doll 10 is in the second position B, the costumeelement 22 may be exposed and movable. In an exemplary embodiment, thecostume element 22 may be a mermaid tail which may be secured over thelegs 18 of the doll 10. When the costume element 22 is deployed fromwithin the cavity 20, the fabric from the costume element 22 may bepulled to cover the legs 18. For example, the fluke 26 may have anaperture 52 sized to be secured to at least a portion of the foot 48 ofthe doll 10. The tail 24 and the fluke 26 may be secured together tocreate a single unit or may be separable. Additionally, at least aportion of the costume element 22 may be made from foam or another typeof material to allow shape retention within the fabric.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above tothe contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawingsare not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teachings without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

1. A doll, comprising: a body having a torso and at least one appendage,the at least one appendage having at least one retaining mechanism; atleast one from the group consisting of the torso and the at least oneappendage defining a cavity; a costume element storable within thecavity; and at least a portion of the costume element configured toengage at least a portion of the body, the at least a portion of thebody having an exterior surface, the at least one retaining mechanismconfigured to releasably affix at least a portion of the costume elementto the exterior surface of the body.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The doll of claim1, further comprising a deployment mechanism disposed within the cavity,the costume element being retained by the deployment mechanism.
 4. Thedoll of claim 1, wherein the cavity includes a door enclosing thecavity.
 5. The doll of claim 4, wherein the door is releasably affixedto the cavity.
 6. The doll of claim 1, wherein the body defines thecavity, and wherein the costume element is wrapped around a springloaded roller within the body, the costume element being configured towrap around the at least a portion of the body.
 7. (canceled)
 8. Thedoll of claim 1, wherein the costume element includes a tail and afluke.
 9. The doll of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the flukemay be rigid. 10.-19. (canceled)
 20. A doll, comprising: a head; acostume element having a tail and a fluke; and a body portion having atorso and at least one appendage, the at least one appendage having atleast one retaining mechanism and at least one from the group consistingof the torso and the at least one appendage defining a cavity thereinconfigured to retain the costume element, the costume element beingconfigured to engage with at least a portion of the torso and the atleast one appendage and the costume element being releasably securableto the at least one appendage, the at least a portion of the torsohaving an exterior surface, the at least one retaining mechanismconfigured to releasably affix at least a portion of the costume elementto the exterior surface of the torso.
 21. The doll of claim 1, whereinthe at least one retaining mechanism is a rib-and-socket mechanism. 22.The doll of claim 1, wherein the at least one retaining mechanismfurther includes a fastener, the fastener being at least one selectedfrom the group consisting of a zipper, a button, and a snap faster. 23.The doll of claim 1, wherein the costume element is deployable from atleast two portions of the at least one appendage.
 24. The doll of claim20, wherein the at least one retaining mechanism further includes afastener, the fastener being at least one selected from the groupconsisting of a zipper, a button, and a snap faster.
 25. The doll ofclaim 20, wherein the fluke further includes a spine and a hinge.